Ravi Agrawal Appointed as Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes

Ravi Agrawal, an IRS officer from the 1988 batch, has been named the new chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which oversees the Income Tax Department. He succeeds Nitin Gupta, a 1986-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, whose extended term as chairman concludes on June 30. Gupta was appointed as the CBDT chief in June 2022 and was initially set to retire in September last year. However, he received a nine-month extension until June.

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New Leadership at CBDT

Agrawal is currently serving as a member of administration within the board. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has issued an order stating that Agrawal will lead the CBDT until June 2025. Although Agrawal is scheduled to retire in September, his appointment order specifies that he will continue on a reappointment contract basis until June 30 next year. This reappointment follows the usual terms and conditions applicable to re-employed central government officers, with some relaxation of recruitment rules.

A senior Union finance ministry officer explained that Agrawal's extended tenure aims to ensure continuity in framing direct tax policies and managing two upcoming budgets. These budgets are expected to be presented by the Union government in July and February 2025. The CBDT is led by a chairman and can have up to six members who hold the rank of special secretary.

Current Members of CBDT

The current members serving on the board include Pragya Sahay Saksena, HBS Gill, Pravin Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, and Sanjay Kumar Verma. Notably, Verma is set to retire from service on June 30. The continuity provided by Agrawal's extended tenure is seen as crucial for maintaining stability within the CBDT during this period.

Agrawal's appointment comes at a time when the CBDT is preparing for significant tasks ahead. His leadership is expected to play a pivotal role in guiding the board through these important fiscal responsibilities.